Daly Waters

Cape Crawford (fuel $2 per litre)

Road train near Cape Crawford

HyWay park at Daly Waters

Sunrise Daly Waters

As I sit here at the HyWay Park & Fuel Stop at Daly Waters (there is even lawn) I am amazed at the fortitude of people who embrace life in regional Australia. It is a tough existence and out here certainly without any of the trimmings we enjoy in daily life!
We travelled from King Ash Bay through to here yesterday with a quick stop at Cape Crawford. This was along the Carpentaria Highway and like other states -NT has taken a liberty calling this a Highway. However it was bitumen so I'll stop complaining. Unfortunately a rock did in one of Garrys tyres so we all had a lesson on changing a tyre on a Prado. Here is a hint Alan & Gai - check it out and consider taking your own jack.
Mining is big in this area and it's sad to not only see the destruction to the landscape but there is so much info around in how they are unable to control the contamination to water and land. MacCarthur River Mines are the big player in this area and the Government should be making them more accountable.
We arrived at Daly Waters to find it whilst not lush, certainly green and welcoming. Like most places we've come across in the outback it is staffed mostly by backpackers. Where are all our unemployed Aussies?
One main exception was Burketown which had aboriginal staff with a few grey nomads. Good on them.
Onto Mataranka today.